he death toll in the tanker explosion in Jigawa State has risen to 105.

The number of the injured has also risen to 70.

DAILY POST earlier reported that no fewer than 94 persons died while 50 others sustained various degrees of injuries in a tanker explosion at Taura LGA of Jigawa State on Wednesday.

A statement by the spokesman of the Jigawa State Command, DSP. Lawan Shiisu Adam, said findings revealed that the explosion was caused by petrol that leaked from the tanker into a gutter.

“Unfortunately, villagers attempted to scoop petrol from the drainage, resulting in a flame that engulfed the area and many people were reportedly perished.”

He noted that 105 corpses have been evacuated, while 70 injured persons were rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for medical attention.

The fire was successfully extinguished through the combined efforts of police officers, firefighters and members of the public.

A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to exercise restraint as tensions continue to escalate within the party.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Wednesday, George emphasized the need for PDP elders to play a significant role in resolving the internal conflicts that have persisted since the build-up to the last presidential election.

He urged both Atiku and Wike to “calm down” and allow for a more collaborative approach to the party’s challenges.

According to George, “I want to appeal to the leaders of the various groups in the party that it is time to shield your personal ambition and let us rebuild the party.

“Let the Iroko tree get back because the tap roots are still there and our people outside the country are asking what is happening with the party.

“There is no organization in the world without crisis but it’s our ability to rebuild the crisis. This crisis didn’t stand now; it started from the Presidential convention and nobody was able to manage it.

“We were the founders of the PDP and I will never serve under Ikimi’s committee, it’s not about disrespect.

“Atiku and Wike should calm down and let us go to the elders meeting where we would start this discussion to trace this crisis back to that convention because that was where everything started going in the wrong direction.”

The Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, on Wednesday, launched the sale of subsidised food items, including a 50-kilogram bag of rice priced at ₦38,700.

Speaking at the launch, held at the Kware Local Government premises in Kware town, Aliyu stated that the initiative aims to ease the burden on the people, particularly those at the grassroots level. To achieve this, the state government approved a substantial 55% discount on each commodity.

The governor stressed that the sale should be open to all, without any conditions such as political affiliation or social status.

He explained, “A 50kg bag of rice will be sold for ₦38,700, while the 25kg bag will cost ₦19,350, and the 10kg bag will be available for ₦7,740.

“We have also instructed the committee overseeing the sales to accommodate those who cannot afford these larger quantities by allowing them to purchase smaller portions.”

Aliyu further noted that the government is not seeking to collect the proceeds from the sales. Instead, a special account will be opened to deposit the funds, which will be used to purchase more foodstuffs and continue the project. The state government has spent ₦14.488 billion on the initiative, procuring 280 trailers of rice, with each ward in the state entitled to one truck, equivalent to 600 bags of rice.

The governor commended the leader of the state’s ruling party and former governor, Aliyu Wamakko, for his guidance and support, which he said has been crucial to the success of his administration. 

He assured the public that adequate measures are in place to ensure the initiative achieves its intended purpose.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Chiso Dattijo, reassured the governor that due process would be followed in distributing the rice. He added that, with the launch, the rice is now available for purchase at designated locations across the 242 wards in the state.

Also speaking, the coordinator of the project in Kware Local Government, Professor Malami Maishanu of Usman Danfodiyo University, urged residents to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the state government. He praised the government for implementing a policy aimed at benefiting those at the grassroots.

Star Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola is speaking about the heavily talked about topic of celebrity earnings vs the lifestyles they portray on social media. This is a discourse that has been happening for years now, and during a new interview, Bimbo Akintola also raised her own questions about the lifestyle after exposing the realities of what major names like IrokoTV and Africa Magic pay for their movies. Here's everything Bimbo Akintola said.

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Speaking about how the lifestyle that actresses portray on social media don't match up with the realistic realities of being an actress in Nollywood, Bimbo Akintola said:

BIMBO AKINTOLA: For a lot of actresses, people can't understand where the money is coming from. Cuz we all know what the industry is about. We all know what people earn. We all know what you can earn. Except you have money from home, maybe you're from a rich family, then some of the lifestyle we see especially on social media can be real. And if it's real, where is it from?

Being truthful, people come up to me and they say "look at actresses, they're very rich" and I say I don't know about that because me, I'm not rich. I say "when you see them, ask them what they do." I say it all the time. I say "ask them what they do." Because we all know how much them dey sell film na. Iroko, has Iroko passed 4 million? Is it not 4 million naira, or 5 max? That's how much a whole film is na. No be so? We all know how much e dey sell for Africa Magic, Africa Magic just went back to N4 million. They went down to 1.2, a whole film! All of us inside plus crew plus everybody, we know how much it is. And then yes, there is also Netflix and Netflix is international so obviously, the money is also bigger. But we also know what people earn for cinema films. We started with cinema before Netflix and that boosted people, but we also know how much we make for those films.

So, for a lot of actresses that I see, I don't know if the money is from home, maybe they're from very rich homes. Or there's other businesses that they're doing. Because there has to be with the amount of wealth that some of our colleagues show.

And then of course we've also heard stories of actresses being wanted by politicians, actresses dating politicians, actresses doing stuff with politicians and getting paid for it. So we've all heard that, and we all know that things like that do happen. But it's not just actresses that do that, women in Nigeria do that, because the poverty level is pretty high, isn't it? So a lot of women are on the level of whatever I can do to sustain myself and my family, I'm gonna do it.

The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has accused the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately mistreating the Super Eagles during their recent stay in Libya.

The Nigerian players and officials faced a distressing ordeal on Sunday when they were stranded for several hours at a Libyan airport, denied access to food and the internet as they prepared to honor their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights.

The situation raised serious concerns about the treatment of the national team in a foreign country.

Enoh’s comments came two days after the incident during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He expressed outrage over the conditions faced by the Super Eagles, stating that the conduct of the Libyan Football Federation was unacceptable.

It took considerable diplomatic efforts and social media outcry for the Super Eagles to finally be cleared to leave Libya.

He said, while dismissing allegations by the Libyan side that their players were badly treated during their first encounter in Nigeria, “The Port Harcourt Airport where they arrived is one of our best airports. That Port Harcourt Airport, there is no circumstance that will lead to a team having the footballers lie on the floor.

“All these things were created deliberately to create some make belief. If this was an issue, it should have been made an issue there and then.”

When asked if the Confederation of African Football (CAF) was explicit in the whole saga, the minister did not categorically answer the question.

Rather he said the CAF Secretary General did not allow the NFF President an opportunity for communication.

He decried a situation whereby the CAF did not comment for about 13 hours after the Nigerian players were subjected to that harsh treatment in Libya.

The minister said, “I called the attention of CAF yesterday morning to the fact that when that happened and the NFF was on the ground trying to sort out whatever logistics, the CAF Secretary General didn’t allow the President one minute of continuous contact and pressure.

“Yesterday morning, it was about 12, 13 hours. How come 13 hours after our team is so subjected, there is no indication that CAF is in direct communication with the Libyan Football Federation?

“If there are such two authorities in Libya, does Libya offer a good environment for international matches of this nature to be hosted in the country?”

Nigeria’s external debt is the largest amongst all sub-Saharan African nations, despite the fact that it received debt waivers from the Paris Club, London Club or from Independent Creditors.

The arrears of this debt have accumulated inexorably, putting Nigeria in the bad books of international financial communities. Also, Nigeria’s huge debt profile has negatively affected its economy, hence, a big reason to worry.

Nigeria’s Vivid Debt History

The Pre-independence Debts

Nigeria’s public debt dates back to its colonial rule. The first recorded public borrowing was in 1923-24 when a loan of £5.7 million was taken by the Nigerian Protectorate at an annual interest rate of 2.5 percent and with a structured repayment time of 20 years. In 1927, another £1 million loan was taken from the Bank of England to finance the construction of the Lago-Port Harcourt Railway. This loan was guaranteed by the British Government and was repaid in 1938. In 1936, the Nigerian Protectorate took another loan of £4.89 million. From 1946 to 1948, it took additional loan of £5.74 million. In 1958, the Nigerian Protectorate took a loan of £28 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, which is also known as the World Bank to finance the expansion of the Kainji Dam and the Ugheli Power Station. This was repaid in 1978.

By the end of the Colonial rule, Nigeria had a national debt of $31 million at an interest rate of 3.5 percent per annum and a repayment period spanning two decades.

Post Independence Debts

Following its independence in 1960, Nigeria continued incurring both domestic and external debt to finance its development needs. It borrowed from the World Bank, the International Development Association, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank, the European Economic Community and bilateral creditors such as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and China.

The main sources of domestic loans are the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank, the Nigerian Agricultural and Cooperative Bank, and the Nigerian Bank of Commerce and Industry.

1. Debts under the First Republic
   It is noteworthy that Nigeria took no external loan from 1963 to 1966 when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was president.
2. Debts under the Military Rule from 1966 till 1979
   Post independent. It was under the military that Nigeria started taking foreign loans.
   a. Under the rule of General Yakubu Gowon from 1966 to 1975, Nigeria’s debt profile rose by $1.687 billion.
   b. From 1975 to 1976 under the rule of General Murtala Mohammed, Nigeria’s debt dropped from $1.69 billion to $1.33 billion.
   c. Under the rule of General Olusegun Obasanjo from 1976 to 1979, Nigeria’s debt increased by $4.90 billion.
3. Debts under the Second Republic: Nigeria’s debt increased by $11.33 billion from 1979 to 1983 under the democratic leadership of Alhaji Shehu Shagari
4. Debts under the Military Rule from 1983 to 1993
   a. Under the rule of General Muhammadu Buhari from 1983-1953, Nigeria’s debt increased by $1.078 billion.
   b. Under the rule of General Ibrahim Babangida from 1985 to 1993, Nigeria’s debt increased by $12.04 billion.
5. There was no recorded debt under the Third Republic
6. Debts under the military rule from 1993 to 1999
   a. Under the rule of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1998 Nigeria’s external debt dropped from $30.7 billion to $30.31 billion.

b. Under the rule of General Abdulsalami Abubakar from 1998 to 1999, Nigeria’s debt dropped from $30.32 billion to $29.1 billion

7. Debts under the Fourth Republic
   a. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo met a foreign debt of $28.04 billion and domestic debt of N798 billion in 1999. Chief Obasanjo was worried about the foreign debts, hence he embarked on a world tour meeting with the Paris Club and other creditors of Nigeria and he pleaded for the forgiveness or reduction of Nigeria’s debts.

This led to a huge reduction of Nigeria’s external debt from $28.04 billion to $2.11 billion. Consequent upon his efforts and prudent management, he left the presidential office in 2007 with an external debt of $2.11 billion and domestic debt of N2.17 trillion. This was a total of 31.8% decrease in the Federal Government’s debt from N3.55 trillion to N2.42 trillion.

b. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua ruled from 2007 to 2011. Within this time, domestic debt increased from N2.17 trillion to N5.62 trillion. Foreign debt increased from $2.11 billion to $3.5 billion. That is an increased debt from N2.4 trillion to N5.62 trillion in four years. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan completed President Yar’Adua’s tenure. In that one year, the Federal Government debt increased from N4.94 trillion to N6.17 trillion.

c. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan commenced his tenure in office in 2011 with a foreign debt of $3.5 billion and left with a debt of $7.3 billion. Domestic debt increased to N8.4 trillion by 2015. This translates to an increase in national debt from N6.17 trillion to N9.8 trillion.

d. President Muhammadu Buhari increased the domestic debt from to N8.4 trillion to N19.24 trillion and external debt from $7.3 billion to $33.62 billion.

e. On assumption of office, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu inherited a domestic debt of N19.24 trillion and external debt of $33.62 billion. By the end of the first quarter of 2024, Nigeria has domestic debt of N65.65 trillion and external debt of $42.12 billion, totalling N121.67 trillion. In addition to this, the states owe a total of N4.07 trillion.

IN 2020, DEBT SERVICE COSTS ACCOUNTED FOR A STAGGERING 83 PERCENT OF REVENUE. BY JANUARY 1, 2024, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S REVENUE WAS N449.7 BILLION WHILE IT SPENT N755.9 BILLION ON DEBT REPAYMENT. NIGERIA’S DEBT IS NOW 168% OF ITS REVENUE.

THE SAD REALITY IS THAT NIGERIA IS NOW REPAYING DEBTS WITH DEBTS, SINCE ITS REVENUE CAN NO LONGER PAY ITS DEBT.

It is therefore worrisome that Nigeria is reported to be taking more debts. In September 2024, the world bank approved a $1.57 billion loan for Nigeria to support its health and education sectors and help provide sustainable power. In June 2024, the World Bank approved $2.25 to be disbursed to Nigeria for Economic Stabilization. In the same year, Nigeria took $8.8 billion debt to be repaid with unexplored oil. This is a total of $12.62 billion in addition to already existing debt.

The questions are:

1. What have we done with all these loans and what are we proposing to do with these additional loans?
2. Where will the Federal Government draw the line on financing the Nigerian economy with debt?
3. When are we repaying the loans?
4. Where are we going to get the money to repay the loans?

The several trillions of Naira taken as loan has not reflected positively on the economy. Where are the projects on which we spent all these monies? Regrettably at 64 years post-independence, Nigeria still suffers from infrastructural decay, declining foreign investments, declining educational standards from infrastructural deficits, increase in the rate of poverty, unrivaled rates of inflation and an astronomical fall of the value of the Naira in international market.

NEWSPAPER REPORTS ABOUT EMBEZZLEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS, EXTRAVAGANT SPENDING, POOR INFRASTRUCTURES, NON-PAYMENT OF SALARIES AND PENSIONS, INFLATION, HUNGER AND POVERTY HAVE RESULTED IN LARGE “JAPA” SYNDROME.
A passionate plea to rescue Nigeria

The Nigerian debt burden has retarded internal development and hindered economic growth in Nigeria. Most government funds are diverted towards debt servicing rather than essential public services. Governments have also taken to financing their debts through other debts. All these have exacerbated the poverty rate in Nigeria leading to the conclusion that Nigeria urgently needs an economic rescue.
Recommendations

In view of the dire state of the economy of Nigeria, the Federal Government should:

1. Adopt Chief Obasanjo’s laid down example by approaching the lenders for total forgiveness of the debts or reduction, and in any event the waiver of the payment of the interests on the debts.
2. Set up committees to investigate and ascertain the actual amounts borrowed, the purposes for which they were borrowed, the accounts into which the monies were paid into and the projects for which the debts were utilised.
3. Enquire into whether it is true or not that Nigeria’s unexplored crude oil was sold in advance. If so, what the money was spent on.
4. Urgently revive national oil refineries to reduce the importation of refined oil in Nigeria. This will leave more monies in government coffers which can then be utilised in the repayment of our debts.
5. Reduce the cost of governance by adopting the practice in the First Republic where law makers regarded their positions as opportunities to serve and only took sitting allowances.
6. Place premium on infrastructural development and reduce recurrent expenditures on politics or governance.
7. Use all recovered proceeds of corruption to service national and international debts.
8. Encourage, promote and finance the development of the agricultural sector and discourage the mindset of Nigerians that politics is the only lucrative business in Nigeria.

All imaginable economic woes have visited Nigeria. However, there is still hope for our beloved nation. A hope that needs political will to thrive.

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….reduce tax burden on Nigerians, CISLAC tells FG

As hardship grips Nigerians, Oxfam in Nigeria raised alarm on Tuesday over the alarming trend of over 99% of wealthy Nigerians evading taxes while millions suffer from hunger.

This assertion was made during the presentation of two comprehensive studies titled Income and Wealth Inequality in Nigeria: Trends and Drivers and Taxing the Rich: Fair Tax Monitor in Abuja.

According to Oxfam, the reports highlight a deepening inequality crisis across the country. Despite being the fourth-largest economy in Africa, the benefits of economic growth are disproportionately concentrated among a small elite, leaving millions of Nigerians trapped in poverty.

The studies were conducted by Oxfam in collaboration with the Tax Justice Network Africa and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC). They explore the structural causes of inequality in Nigeria, focusing on issues related to income, wealth, gender, and regional disparities. The findings are based on statistical data, expert analysis, and contributions from key policy stakeholders.

Oxfam’s analysis reveals a staggering wealth gap in Nigeria, calling for the adoption of progressive wealth taxation and increased social investment to bridge the growing economic and social divide before a potential social crisis erupts.

The reports indicate that only 40 of Nigeria’s wealthiest citizens are compliant taxpayers, according to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and John Bean Technologies Corporation (JBT). This represents a compliance rate of just 0.035%, implying that over 99% of the country’s wealthiest individuals evade or avoid paying taxes.

To address these issues, Oxfam urges the Nigerian government to implement several key measures:

Increase Social Spending: Currently, Nigeria allocates only 2-3.5% of its budget to education and 4-7% to healthcare, well below global standards. The government should raise social sector spending to at least 10% of the budget in health, education, and agriculture.

Implement Progressive Taxation: Establish a wealth tax targeting high-net-worth individuals. A 1% tax on net worth over $1 million could generate approximately $7.5 billion annually, which could fund critical social programs.

Invest in Human Capital Development: Enhance education, job creation, and healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved populations. Improving wages, reducing corruption, and expanding educational opportunities—especially for women and girls—will enhance Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI) by 2030.

Support Smallholder Farmers and Reform Agriculture: Strengthen policies that improve access to credit, land, and rural infrastructure for smallholder farmers. Prioritizing women’s land rights and promoting sustainable farming practices will help bridge the rural-urban divide.

Reform Land Policies: Establish a National Land Commission, conduct a National Land Audit, and ensure that land redistribution programs are transparent and inclusive, particularly regarding gender disparities.

Collaborate with Civil Society: Non-state actors, including civil society organizations, the private sector, and community groups, should advocate for pro-poor policies, hold the government accountable, and promote gender equality.

Develop a Comprehensive Wealth Registry and Strengthen Tax Enforcement: This will ensure that high-net-worth individuals contribute their fair share to the nation’s revenue.

In his address, Anwual Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, urged the government to implement a Net Wealth Tax, raise the Capital Gains Tax to align with global best practices, and exempt basic goods from VAT while introducing luxury taxes on high-end items such as private jets, luxury cars, and yachts.

He further proposed that the government fully exempt Nigerians earning below the minimum wage or less than N840,000 annually from Personal Income Tax (PIT), while raising the top tax rate to at least 40% for the top 1%. Rafsanjani also advocated for the introduction of an Inheritance and Gift Tax targeting estates exceeding N50 million, along with renegotiating Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) that disproportionately benefit multinational corporations to strengthen Nigeria’s tax sovereignty.

The Tunisian pilot who flew the Super Eagles of Nigeria to Libya for African Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifying match in Benghazi has said he was ordered by the Libyan government to divert the flight to Al-Abraq Airport, located 150miles away from destination point.

Recall the Super Eagles were billed to have landed at the airport in Benghazi and travelled nearly four hours drive by road to Benina where the match was to be played.

The pilot’s account came on a day the two arms of the National Assembly, the Senate and House of Representatives, flayed the Libyan government for subjecting the Nigerian team to dehumanising treatment, seeking stiff penalties for the Libyan authorities and asking the Federal Government to summon the country’s ambassador.

In a now-viral video, the pilot said the original plan was to land in Benina, a town in the Benghazi area of Libya, with prior approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, LCAA.

The pilot said, however, that upon beginning descent, he was instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which was not listed as an alternate airport.

The Tunisian said he was told the order for flight diversion came from “Libya’s highest authorities.”
He said he repeatedly questioned the flight diversion order due to the limitation of aviation fuel but was ignored by Libyan aviation authorities.

“The flight plan was to land in Benghazi, Benina, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority.

“However, as we began our descent, we were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport.

“This decision came from the highest authorities, not me. In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination. Diverting unexpectedly can compromise safety.

“Everything is documented. I asked to land in Benghazi as per my flight plan, but they denied it, instructing me to divert immediately.

“I repeatedly questioned the directive and warned them about fuel limitations, but they insisted that we land in Al-Abraq, citing orders from the highest authority.”

Senate calls for probe, stiffer penalties for Libya

Reacting to the development yesterday, the Senate asked the government of Libya to, as a matter of urgency, apologise to Nigeria, while also seeking a probe and stiffer penalties for the Maghreb country as a country following the inhumane treatment they subjected the Super Eagles to upon their arrival for the 2025 AFCON qualifier.

Condemning what it described as unwarranted hostilities and unfair treatment of the Super Eagles, the Senate also asked the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to bring the ugly development to the attention of the Libyan government and the need to exercise restraint, as the act had its negative diplomatic consequences.

It equally asked the Federal Government to report the unsportsmanlike action of the Libyan authorities to the Confederation of African Football, CAF, with a view to apportioning appropriate sanctions on them to forestall recurrence in future.

The Upper Chamber commended the Ministry of Sports and the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, for their prompt response and action by facilitating the safe return of the players.

Resolutions of the Senate, sequel to a motion, titled ‘Ill-treatment of the Nigerian Eagles Football team by the Libyan Authorities and Football Federation at the Al-Abrab Airport, Libya’, sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Ismaila Kawu, NNPP (Kano South), who came under Order 42 of the Senate Standing rules on personal explanation.

In his presentation, Senator Kawu said: “The Senate notes with dismay the ill-treatment meted out on a contingent of the Nigerian Super Eagles in Libya on Sunday, October 13, 2024, an incident which has been reported in the various media platforms across the country.

‘’From information made available by the Nigerian Football Federation’s Director of Communication, it was revealed that the delegation departed from the Aminu Kano International Airport at 13:18 hours on that fateful day in a chartered Value Jet aircraft, ahead of the scheduled second leg of the Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier against Libya.

“It also notes that upon arrival in Libya, the pilot commenced the initial approach into Benghazi. However, he was instructed by the control tower not to land, in spite of having completed all the required landing papers and formalities before jetting out of Nigeria.

“Consequently, the aircraft was directed to the Al-Abraq International Airport, which lacked the control navigators for landing at such hours, as the said airport is occasionally used for Hajj operations.
“The Senate further notes that in spite of the pilot’s complaint of shortage of fuel, the aircraft was denied access and he was told that the directive came from the ‘highest authorities’.

‘’The actions of the Libyan authorities and football federation did not only endanger the lives of the players but also other members of the delegation, including the deputy governor of Edo State, NFF officials and a couple of parliamentarians.

“This ignoble act is reminiscent of clandestine conspiracy and antic, intentionally orchestrated to frustrate visiting teams in order to weaken their morale and dampen their spirits to the advantage of host country.

“The Senate is aware that the Embassy of Nigeria in Tripoli made arrangements with the authorities in Benghazi to welcome the Nigerian delegation, prior to their arrival, but their application was allegedly and outrightly rejected as the authorities already had a premeditated plan to frustrate our team, ahead of the scheduled match;

“It observes that in spite of series of complaints from the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, and other concerned Nigerians, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, is yet to make an official statement, regarding the matter.

“It also observes that though our team embarked on this patriotic journey to perform an important national assignment to make the country proud, their safety and welfare should be of more paramount consideration to us as a nation.”

In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who presided over plenary, said the manner the players were treated was terrible and condemnable, adding that the action was not in tandem with the spirit of sportsmanship.

Jibrin, who noted that the essence of sports was to promote unity and competition as well as enhance brotherhood among the countries on the continent, said: “The matter was brought under personal explanation by chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Sulaiman Kawu (Kano South).

“What happened to the Super Eagles in Libya is not in tandem with the spirit of sports. The essence of sports is to promote unity and competition and enhance brotherhood among the countries on the continent. The way our players were treated is terrible and condemnable.

“Fortunately, you (Kawu) have come through a personal explanation, and this is what we intended it to do because we don’t want a diplomatic row; we think this is a mistake which the Libyans should be given the chance to correct and apologise to the Federal Government.

“Nigeria is a big country in Africa. We always lead in terms of diplomacy, friendship and everything. Based on that spirit, I am sure you decided that this matter should be treated this way, so we can give their leaders a chance to apologise to our national team.

“We call on the ambassador and whoever is concerned and the authorities to come out and apologise for what they have done to our national team.”

Akpabio decries ill-treatment

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in a statement yesterday, condemned in very strong terms the inhuman treatment meted out on the Super Eagles by the Libyan authorities.

Akpabio, in the statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, decried the antics and shameful behaviour of the Libyan officials and authorities, saying “This unfortunate incident is a stark reminder of the disregard for human dignity and the lack of respect for international norms.”

He declared that the reported mistreatment of the Super Eagles’ players was unacceptable and a breach of the principles of fair play and sportsmanship that underpinned international football competitions.

The statement reads: “As the President of the Senate, I stand in solidarity with the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and the entire Nigerian football community in condemning this unjust treatment.

“The Senate will continue to monitor this situation closely and ensure that the rights and dignity of our citizens are protected. We will not tolerate any form of mistreatment or disrespect towards our nationals, regardless of the circumstances.

“We demand a thorough investigation from the disciplinary committee of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, and appropriate sanctions to be meted out on those involved.

“It is also imperative that the Libyan authorities take immediate action to investigate this incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable to prevent future occurrences.

“We call on the international football community to condemn this unacceptable behaviour and support our demand for justice.”

Reps ask FG to summon Libyan ambassador to Nigeria

Similarly, the House of Representatives, in its reaction to the incident, asked the Federal Government to summon the Libya ambassador to Nigeria to explain why the players were maltreated

In a motion sponsored by Kabiru Ahmadu under matters of urgent national importance at the plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abass yesterday, the lawmakers also urged NFF to make an official complaint to the Confederation of African Football, CAF and Federation of International Football Association, FIFA.

Ahmadu recalled that in the Super Eagles contingent were House of Representatives members, led by the Deputy Chairman, Committee on Sports, Deputy Governor of Edo State, members of NFF Board and the entire crew of NFF.

He also recalled that within the 18-hour ordeal faced by the super Eagles at Al-Abraq International Airport in Libya, the contigent was left stranded on arrival at 14:00hrs on Sunday, October 13, 2024, till they were allowed to depart from the airport back to Nigeria almost 20 hours after.

He explained that the team and the delegation were en-route to Benghazi in Libya, before their aircraft was unexpectedly diverted mid-flight to AlAbraq, a small airport typically reserved for hajj operations.

He said it was unfortunate that despite diverting the flight to a small airport with little or no amenities, the Libyan authorities did not allow the team to get out of the airport or move to their hotel, and also denied them access to the internet, food, water, as the airport was cordoned off.

Consequently, the House mandated its committees on sports and foreign affairs to probe the issue and report back accordingly.

I’m still in shock — Eguavoen

In his reaction to the incident, Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen, said he was still in shock over the 20-hour horror faced at the airport in Libya.

Eguavoen, who noted that the team’s experience was tough and too bad for the game, said: “I am still in shock and I have to thank the players for their maturity.

‘’We were locked in a space with so much uncertainty. It was a tough one. We were held hostage.

“Football unites people and nations but I cannot understand why the Libyans behaved that way. It was strange. I thank the government of Nigeria for all the efforts and also the calmness of the players.

“I love the strong mentality of the boys. It would have been nice to come back home with the three points but no match can be played that way. I also thank the Libyans for allowing us to leave because it took a while to convince them.’’

CAF officially puts the Nigeria-Libya match on hold

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, declared officially yesterday that the match between Nigeria and Libya would not hold until issues around it were resolved.

The match between both the Super Eagles and The Mediterranean Knights was to have been held at 8 pm last night
In a statement released yesterday, CAF said the case between the two nations “will be referred to the competent CAF bodies.”.

The terse statement read: “The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifier fixture between Libya and Nigeria will not occur as scheduled tonight (last night). The matter will be referred to the competent CAF bodies.”

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned that the Nigerian public will lose confidence in the judiciary if judges continue to delay case execution.

She made this statement during the third annual National Judicial Council (NJC) conference on judges’ performance evaluation in Abuja on Tuesday.

Expressing concern over the rising number of pending cases and the slow rate at which judges are resolving them, the CJN highlighted alarming statistics.

“As of the first quarter of 2024, we had a total of 243,253 cases pending in our superior courts of record, exclusive of the Supreme Court,” Kekere-Ekun said. These cases include 199,747 civil suits and 43,506 criminal cases.

The CJN expressed dissatisfaction with the low case disposal rates, noting that some judges had failed to deliver a single judgment over an entire quarter.

“This is simply unacceptable,” she remarked, urging the judiciary to take immediate action to address the situation.

To improve judicial efficiency, Kekere-Ekun called for the use of technology and case management innovations such as digital case management systems, virtual courtrooms, and e-filing.

She also advocated for alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like mediation and arbitration to ease the workload on courts.

“My Lords, ladies and gentlemen, we cannot wish away the growing backlog of cases or expect a different result when we continue to do things the same way,” she said, stressing that delayed justice equates to denied justice.

The CJN emphasized that timely and effective case resolutions are crucial to maintaining public trust in the judiciary, urging judicial officers to take full advantage of digital tools to enhance performance.

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential fiscal policy and tax reforms committee, says Nigerian businesses are strained due to taxes paid in foreign currency.

Speaking at the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) first revenue assurance summit, Oyedele said businesses are required to pay certain taxes in dollars, which amounts to an estimated $3.5 billion annually.

According to Oyedele, the practice not only strains local businesses but also contributes to the depreciation of the naira.

“We found that Nigerian businesses are being asked to pay some taxes in dollars — NIMASA, NPA, etc. which amounts to an estimated $3.5 billion a year,” the chairman said.

“We are crying that our naira is losing value; why wouldn’t it lose value when we impose unnecessary dollar demands?”

In his address, titled “The Importance of Revenue Assurance in Economic Stability,” Oyedele noted that revenue should be used to enhance the lives and livelihoods of citizens rather than simply serving as a financial target.

He called for a coherent policy environment that fosters investment and collaboration among federal and state agencies.

‘RELEASE DATA IN 48 HOURS OR FACE CONSEQUENCES’

Oyedele warned government agencies against withholding data from each other, noting that the data does not belong to them.

Giving an instance, Oyedele said the Joint Tax Board (JTB) was required to pay for data access from governmental sources.

He questioned how the government would generate revenue if the agencies were selling data.

To prevent government agencies from withholding data, Oyedele announced plans to draft legislation mandating the free provision of government-held data, with strict deadlines for compliance.

“Our economy must be designed to be conducive and investment friendly, our policy environment must be purposeful and coherent, let’s not be pulling in different directions, states versus federal or even within federal agencies.

“JTB (Joint Tax Bank) told me as part of the work we are doing, the number of agencies they were looking for data, you know they were commending the NFIU and we are grateful for the NFIU and the leadership… and they were asking them to come and pay for data.

“JTB was being asked to pay for data I couldn’t believe it. In the same Nigeria, government has data and government is selling data and we say government does not have revenue,” he said.

“How are we suppose to have revenue if we are selling data?

“So we drafted a law, it is not your data, it is our data, you will give it. In fact we will give you a deadline of 48 hours. If you don’t release the data, there will be consequences. We are criminalising it. Give the data.”

He further stressed the necessity of linking domestic data with international standards to ensure the integrity of information while making revenue collection processes efficient and transparent.

Oyedele said protocols are being developed to ensure data integrity and protection.

‘FOCUS ON PROBLEM-SOLVING RATHER THAN OBSTRUCTING EFFORTS’

Addressing misinformation surrounding his committee’s initiatives, Oyedele criticised unfounded claims about fiscal policies, particularly a recent report alleging the committee announced a 10 percent reduction in federal government allocations from the federal account allocation committee (FAAC).

On October 13, Oyedele denied proposing a reduction in the federal government’s share of revenue from FAAC.

He said his committee’s recommendation was explicitly in respect of the value-added tax (VAT) revenue.

Speaking on the issue, the chairman urged stakeholders to focus on problem-solving rather than obstructing efforts to improve the economy.

‘EFFECTIVE COLLECTION OF TAXES WILL INCREASE REVENUES WITHIN 3 YEARS’

Oyedele announced that the committee has proposed a synchronised tax system that includes eight key taxes across federal, state, and local levels.

He said the effective collection of the taxes could result in a four- to five-fold increase in revenues within two to three years.

Additionally, Oyedele proposed a national framework for subsidies aimed at alleviating financial pressures on businesses, expressing hope that political leaders will adopt the reforms while calling for unity among stakeholders in implementing the reforms.

In her remarks, Hafsat Bakari, chief executive officer (CEO) of the NFIU, said while the unit’s work on tax crimes initially focused on supporting the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), NFIU has now expanded its efforts to partner with sub-national counterparts.

Bakari said most tax evasion occurs at the state level and that financial transaction data held by the NFIU would greatly benefit state internal revenue services.

“While FIUs were created by international conventions to address criminal activity, the same international conventions and standards require that we put in place measures to protect the integrity of the information that we provide,” Bakari said.

“To this end, our approach to working with States is built on the establishment of a memorandum of understanding which sets out the principles, objectives and limitations of the intelligence provided.”

She also announced the creation of the crime records information management system (CRIMS), a secure platform for requesting and receiving intelligence from the agency.

Bakari said through CRIMS, paper records, which are prone to compromise, have been eliminated.